Page 14 - SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS JULY 2022

ADVANCES IN TELEMEDICINE

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Develops Electronic Wellness Check

My Wellness Check, an electronic health record integrated symptom speakers, which have historically been excluded from such initiatives,”
and practical-needs screening and referral system developed at Sylvester Dr. Penedo said.
Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Dr. Penedo and co-authors at Sylvester implemented the pilot at the
Health System, went live for all Sylvester outpatients and providers on UHealth gynecology-oncology ambulatory clinic. Of the more than
June 1. 1,200 assessments offered to patients from October 2019 to January
Sylvester researchers have been using and studying the My Wellness 2021, 60% were initiated, including more than 65% of the English and
Check tool in preparation for the system-wide rollout, which will now about 50% of the Spanish My Wellness Check screenings. Among the
include not only Sylvester’s ambulatory oncology clinics but also the cen- 506 completed screenings, more than 50% were Hispanic or Latino. All
tral Sylvester campus. Ambulatory, or outpatient, clinics are where were women, which the authors wrote may limit the generalizability of
patients receive care, treatment, and follow-up visits post cancer diagno- these findings to other patient populations.
sis. The cancer center has these satellite offices across South Florida,
including specialty clinics for breast oncology, gynecology, hematologic Responding to Patients’ Needs and Concerns
oncology, general oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, surgi- Dr. Frank J. Penedo Most patients completed the 8- to 10-minute screening at home via
cal reconstruction, survivorship, and supportive care. the patient portal. Patients were most likely to voice nutritional con-
My Wellness Check is available in English and Spanish and was developed to assess cerns or needs, followed by emotional symptoms, practical needs, and physical symp-
a broad range of cancer patients’ physical and emotional symptoms, such as pain, toms. The appropriate oncology health professional addressed physical symptoms in
fatigue, anxiety, and depression, as well as practical needs including transportation, more than 77% of cases; social work staff responded to emotional symptoms in nearly
child care, and financial concerns. The assessment is scored in “real time” within the 100% of cases; and a dietician followed up with patients with nutritional needs in
electronic health record, and patients are triaged to supportive services and/or the nearly 79% of cases.
medical teams during their visits. These findings are in line with emerging evidence that patient-reported outcomes
“UHealth is the first health system to incorporate (National Institutes of Health-) assessing the spectrum of health and wellness concerns among cancer patients and
NIH-developed and well-validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement survivors may facilitate responsive, patient-centered care and improve patient-
Information System (PROMIS) measures in Spanish to evaluate and monitor physi- provider communication, according to Dr. Penedo.
cal, emotional, and social well-being,” said Frank J. Penedo, Ph.D., Sylvester associ-
ate director for cancer survivorship and translational behavioral sciences. Enhancing Care for Cancer Patients, Survivors
The rollout comes on the heels of research recently published in JCO Oncology This type of screening is beginning to impact the lives of cancer patients and sur-
Practice, which documented the feasibility of using the screening measures in vivors at cancer centers nationwide. It will inform future efforts about how to
English and Spanish among racially and ethnically diverse patients. improve care with adequate representation from racial and ethnic minorities, and, in
the case of Sylvester, among Spanish speakers, according to Dr. Penedo.
Feasibility Study Included Spanish Speakers “We are currently looking at long-term clinical outcomes, such as emergency room
“Ours was the first large-scale study to evaluate the use of a patient-reported visits, hospitalizations, and how My Wellness Check impacts those outcomes. Those
screening system embedded within the electronic health record among Spanish results should be ready for publication soon,” Dr. Penedo said.

ch

Integraating TTeechnology too

Deliverr Exceptional Car e
io
Seammless T
g
p
Seeking to recapture valuable time S r ransfers of EMRs
while also optimizing g care for seriously I I nteggrating with the systems of ouur
ill patients? VITTAAS® H Healthcare uses h e par tners cr eates seamlesss
healtthcar
technology to streamline the hospice t transsfers of patient r ecor ds. VITAS
A A
referral process, trans sfer records, and u oprietar y inter operabilityy
uses a pr
enhance care commu unications. systeem designed to inter face with
s
,
y y ourr EMR technology , incr easing
Easy-Access Refer rrals
t the eefficiency of case managers and
Making referrals can be challenging
s shortening our r esponse time.
t
when healthcare prof fessionals are
managing many patieents. That’s why Mobbile-Supported
M
Hospice Car
VITTAAS ensures you h have direct access H e
to our admissions pro ofessionals V A A car e teams ar e equipped
VITAS
24/7/365 through ph hone, fax, with iOS technology , a , o l l e h t g n i w e m
w
T
VITTAAS.com, and VITTAAS’ proprietary t to de er mobile-suppor ted c i p s o h

eliv

e c

mobile app. The app features a car e, communications, or ders, and
c
d
unique aim-snap-sendd face sheet i interractions to patients ’ bedsides—
—
referral capability thaat can be done q kly , , and reliably . .
quick , securely
,
with a smartphone orr tablet.
patieents’ healthcar
Support your p e jour neys
s
with VITTAAS as y . .
yourr partner
800.93.VITTAAS | | VITAS.com | Since 1980
A
T
14 July 2022 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News